Packers Seek Tax Help . . .

Pro Beat

January 22, 2000

The Green Bay Packers will ask for a 0.5 percent sales tax in Brown County to help pay for a $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field, The Associated Press has learned.

The tax, which must be approved by county voters in a referendum, would be in addition to Wisconsin's 5 percent state sales tax and would bring in $160 million for upgrades to the stadium, two sources who have been briefed by Packers officials said Friday.

``The sales tax will remain in effect until it's paid for,'' said one of the sources, a state lawmaker who was briefed by the team and spoke on the condition of the anonymity.

The remaining $135 million would be paid for by the Packers, though the team plans to charge a one-time ``personal-seat license'' of $1,500 to $2,000 on all season-ticket holders to help raise the money, the sources said.

The renovation plan calls for the Packers to expand the 61,000-seat stadium by about 10,000 seats.

Team officials have said they would consider selling single-game tickets for games if they were to receive taxpayer money for renovating and expanding the stadium, allowing non-season-ticket holders to see games. There is a 51,000-fan waiting list for Packers tickets, team officials said.

- . . .and so do Cardinals

A task force looking for ways to finance construction of a $329 million stadium for the Arizona Cardinals approved a plan that would increase tourism-related taxes statewide. The plan calls for the Cardinals to contribute $75 million and the Fiesta Bowl $20 million to finance the facility. Venue-related taxes would add $75 million.

The remaining $159 million would come from a combination of special taxes, including a 0.5 percent hike in the hotel tax statewide - despite a tepid response from Arizona's hospitality industry.

Maricopa County visitors would pay an additional 0.5 percent. The rental-car tax would change from a flat $3 surcharge to a 3 percent tax.

- 49ers sign offensive lineman

The San Francisco 49ers signed center Chris Dalman to a four-year contract. Dalman's base salary for the 2000 season will be $587,500. His signing leaves the 49ers about $20 million over the projected NFL salary cap of $62.2 million.

- The coaching carousel

Defensive backs coach Chuck Bresnahan was promoted to defensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders, replacing the recently fired Willie Shaw. Bresnahan, 39, spent the past two seasons as the Raiders' defensive backs coach. ... Dave Adolph, assistant head coach and linebackers coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, has retired after 37 years of coaching.